Anatomy Of Type

Going back to my younger years, I remember bombing the city streets using graffiti as a tool to communicate my art. That deep rooted passion for lettering would cultivate there and later grow into the form of a tattoo, as most of my first tattoos were of course lettering. Its elegance and timeless qualities have always inspired me, but not until recently did I really get to explore the beautiful world of typography in the historical sense. Diving into the birth of hand drawn symbolism, to the old styles of the early empires, and thenÂ coming full circle to today.Â To push and explore any area of interest,Â its important to understand the anatomy of where it comes from. Thinking about balance, weight, spacing, and overall harmony within the letters in just as important asÂ the word that is being communicated. Studying alongsideÂ graphic designers at my school that are religious about this stuff has made me look at type in a whole new context. TakeÂ a look into the process...

Learning through endless practice...

"Know the rules well, so that you can break them effectively" -Daili Lama

Its interesting to see how tattoo artists have pushed the boundaries with lettering such as script and old style fonts. Watching guys likeÂ Miguel Ochoa and Johhny Opina push the envelope into creating these trulyÂ unique styles that my instructors trip out on isÂ nothing short of inspiring. To thinkÂ that tattooing is impacting and contributing to something 1000's of years old is amazing.

Angels and Demons

The brother Carlos was in the studio last night to seal up his chest we had started some time ago. Another one thats in it for the long term, already with some great work from the brother's Jun Cha and Lil B, and honor to add another addition to his collection. Long hours last night with this one...

Based on the trials and tribulations of the great Saint Michael battling the fallen angels of heaven. The question lies, what side of the battle do you wish to partake in? The inner demons one carries are only know to the beholder, but how you push forward is the basis for how one's character is built. Here lies the battle of a Saint...

Some closer looks...

A nig thanks to Carlos for pulling through and sitting like a rock. Further additions to his collection in the works...

Back In The Days… NOMAD

Its so important to surround yourself with like minded positive people as you pursue your craft. As I look back on the ones with the greatest influence on me as a younger artist and now today, I can see how much they truly inspired and impacted me. I Remember beign a little knucklehead at 14 and finding Grafitti. I picked up a can of spray paint and had no idea what I was doing. It wasn't until my good friend, R.I.P Joe Hyland, began showing me the ropes and educating me on the medium, that I began to love and pursue the artform in a different way. There's is only so much you can learn and do on your own, the truth is when you learn and grow alongside your piers that are just as hungry and passionate as you are, is when the magic happens...

Heres a little walk down memory lane with some of my old graffiti work from back in 2003- 2005. The piece below was done in honor of my biggest influence in the art, Kidicarus... Rip brother

Last Of A Dying Breed

In a day where everything is beginning to be mass produced, shipped over from china fresh off the conveyer belt, and numbers sold seem more important than the integrity and quality of the actual product itself, it's good to know that real craftsman still exist. Watching my good brother Jeff work from raw material to actual form and functionality was a breath of fresh air. Jeff is a rare breed. Honored to have the opportunity to take part in his process from start to finish...

20 plus pieces are handmade here in Jeff's studio...

The attention to detail I observed was incredible. No detail went unnoticed.

Enjoy a short vid put together via my iPhone. A day's work in 15 seconds...

Committed

The brother Gary is back in from Houston Texas to continue. This session was spent laying in both hand shots. One based on strengthÂ and one family. To think, five months ago, Gary came to see me he had not one tattoo, and now we've just about sealed up both arms completely.Â Its clients like Gary that understand the process, the patience and endurance involved with reaching the end of these large scale projects. Quality is always the motivation. With time and persistence we get there. Always good to have Gary in the chair... be sure to look out for final looks with his collection...

Saint Felipe

Uffizi Painting Collection

Florence houses one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the western world.Â Take a minute to soak in some much-needed inspiration with a walk through the Uffizi Gallery's painting collection found right here in the heart of the city. At the beginning of the trip I had the opportunity to take in the collection at the Vatican, and now here we are once again with more masterpieces to drewl over. I have found myself in a very critical point in my pursuit of painting and the arts in general. Seeing these masterpieces for myself has given me a boost of hunger to return home to work and study harder than ever before. These artists reached the levels that they did not by chance, luck or any magic of any kind. No tricks or gimmicks, but passion, commitment and perseverance. Nothing in this world is given, but if we strive for more, we can surprise ourselves at what can be achieved. I believe that the greats had no idea of what their work and passions would lead to. The levels that they reached, in many cases had never been reached before. One thing I am sure they had in common is a thirst that couldn't be quenched, a love for their work that overrides any selfish need or want. When you find your life's work, nothing else matters. Find your niche and own it. Learn from the greats and push it further...

Enjoy

Botticelli

Leonardo Da Vinci

Michelangelo

Raphael

Artemisia Gentileschi

Caravaggio

Van Dyck

And lastly the man who reached the highest level of painting than any other... the one and only Rembrandt. Here you can see his development from early in his career to his later more abstract style later in career.

Victoria’s Angel

The brother Cj made the trip out from Virginia to begin work to his lower right sleeve. A fun way to put a twist on the classic angel theme. Like me, Cj has his queen back home, but it doesn't hurt have having a girl like this one watching over your shoulder when times get rough. Strong first pass with the brother who sat like a rock.

Temptations

Jarome is back in to continue. With prior themes surrounding deception and now building towards temptation and the symbolism behind the forbidden fruit. Constant reminder to stay focused and stay the course.

Necessary Evil

Building the collection with the brother Santiago. The classic St. Michael begans telling the story of the great battle that we all share, being the one within us. We start with creating the strong focal point of interest that will transition to the lower. Touching on the ideas of everyday striving to overcome our demons as we pursue our life's ambitions. Using our struggles to fuel the fire within and continue to move onward...

Rome’s Treasures

As we near our upcoming trip to Europe, here's a look back at some views from Rome earlier in the year...

When you witness these masterpieces for yourself, you are in the company of artists that have dedicated their whole lives to perfecting their craft. To reach the level of excellence that these old masters did, is not impossible, it just takes endless amounts of work. Once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with it and never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill.Â Â I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more. I'll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but who knows where the top is.

"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." Â -Michelangelo

Life AFTER

The brother Mike is in for another round with his life and death inspired collection. Homestretch with Mike as we come full circle to wrap the lower leg. Diving into the transitions that lead to the afterlife, there is a beauty that lies in death... rebirth.

The skull plays its part to symbolize mortality and the notion of memento mori, while the butterflies symbolize rebirth and growth.

âEach night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.â -Mahatma Gandhi

Give Refuge

ClientÂ traveling from Northern England is back in to continue. While the brothers wereÂ on the grind in London it was nonstop in theÂ LA studio. Not an easy session to pull through, GarethÂ sat like a warrior.

After the foundation has settled in we can continue to layerÂ the greys,Â which allows us to achieve a richerÂ and wider value range.

Another fulfilling project,Â feels good to see this one come full circle. Keep an eye out for more to come with this collection, come London in January.

Face Off

Loyal client under the Lowrider roof is Brandon. With a growing collection from both Jose and I, Brandon has been enduring some long hours in the studio lately. Last night we managed to sealed up his chestplate we had started a little while back. Take a look at some views from our last session...

Brandon will be in the chair with Jose next to seal up the rest of his front panel, bringing both the upper and lower sections together. Stay tuned...

Quality Defined

I recently had the privilege of taking a trip out to visit our boy Jeff Bloodhound at his studio. For those of you who are wondering what type of machines use, this is it. First he showed me the equiptment he is running which is no joke, I think if I were to sell one of these machines I could probably pay for my entire tuition. He than ran me through the whole process from start to finish.Â Nothing Jeff uses to build his machines are premade or shipped from over seas.

Every single piece from the contact screws...

Â to the armatuer bars...

Â to the frames themselves,Â are all hand crafted and cut right here in the lab. That hand quality and prestine craftsmanship that Jeff is so passionate about is what sets him apart from the rest.

What makes for the perfect machine? We had a long talk regarding some machines that he is building for me right now. Lately we have been trying to push the boundary with the past few machines he has built for me, making minor tweaks here and there, and I think we might now have come up with the ultimate formula. I swear Jeff is like the mad scientist when he's in here, he takes an idea and just runs with it, not stopping until he has mastered it. This man knows exactly what he is doing and in my opinion is by far one of the most talented machine builders of our time. Truly an honor to get a glimpse into what goes on behind the curtains with the art of machine building. For more information about contacting Jeff click here.

apollo

Calm Canadian

Great beginnings with Clint. Hailing down from our neighboring country of Canada, we kicked off his collection with two sessions back to back. Still in the early stages with our first meeting, but a good start none the less. Our early efforts were focused on a dedication to the recent passing of his moms. Never an easy subject to work with, but hopefully this bring some closure.

Next was a different approach on the opposite end of the spectrum, twisting the theme of temptation and using the symbolism of the forbidden fruit to help tell that story.

Dangerously Beautiful

Long days lead to longer nights. Much exciting work has been in the works in and out of the studio lately, that will be revealed shortly. For now, take a look into a recent project with the brother Sal.

To kick off Sal's collection he chose to pay homage to the strong and beautiful mexican women that have impacted his life.

Never underestimate the strength of a woman, especially one ready for war...

Remember fellas, it's a man's world, but it wouldn't be nothin without a woman or a girl.

Duomo

We landed in Milan and after working for two weeks straight in London, its timeÂ for a much needed break with the brothers. After getting settled in we made our way towards the center of the city, the DUOMO. One thing that I find most interesting about the church is the fact that it took nearly 6 centuries to complete. Me and Jose where thinking how it would be to dedicate your life completely to a project, knowing that you would not live to see it completed. Talk about believing in something that is bigger than yourself. Aside from that, the time that passed also allowed 6 generations of styles influence the structure. Some say the styles conflict, but what I witnessed was 6 generations in perfect harmony with one another that came together in some way to complete something spectacular.Â From the unbelievable amount of sculptures that coat the exterior to the design that's so complex, it seems as though one might study it a week without exhausting its interest. Enjoy some views as we reload with some inspiration...

The bronze doors that greet you are nothing short of amazing both in size and detail. Note the size with Jose and I standing in front...

The brother Miguel and I made the trek to the top just in time to catch some views from the top before the sun went down.

Map Out

Lately I've been getting lost in the beautiful world that is painting. When prepping for a larger piece, one can never forget to neglect the planning, studying and problem solving that goes into the development stages. Before moving forward to the finish, theÂ big problems first need to be solved. As with anything, the importance lies in the bricks. Here's a look at a head study for a new painting in the works.

A short clip pulled from Instagram, take a walk through some of the process...

Holy Grail

It's been a smooth journey with my brother Michael. With last night's session we were able to seal up his chest we had started some time ago. Unlike other mediums, tattooing is purely a collaborative process between both the artist and client. If one is more invested then the other the results are never met to their fullest potential. It's not just the client or the artist, but both to be equally invested in the process, from start to finish. Since day one Michael has been soldier. No whining, easy to work with, and sits like a rock every time. Take a look at the finished work focusing on the religious key figures; St. Paul and the Virgin Mary.

One of the biggest questions the artist's asks himself is when is the work finished? With each session you dig deeper and deeper, and it gets harder to say when...

"Art is never finished, only abandoned." -Leonardo Da Vinci

A big thanks to Michael for soldiering through those long sessions with me. A great start with his collection.

Showcase

I was both suprised and humbled to be awarded here in Rome at the convention over the weekend. Having so many amazing artists under one roof is always inspiring for me and now being able to have my work stand alongside them is truly an honor. We took home 1st small black and grey for the work done on our very own Krystal. I was talking with Jose about what these awards mean. When you work as hard as we do, its obvious we don't put in the hours in hopes to just receive awards. Its our craft, our passion, our commitment to excellence, that keeps us pursuing this. But its also nice to be awarded with a kind of recognition that is respected by your fellow tattoo artist, as the ones are here over seas. It feels good to be awarded for my work, but knowing that my mentors and colleagues are proud of me and what i'm doing, feels better...

The award was a piece of art in its own right. Something nice to bring home to moms.

Unchained

The brother Myles is back in to finetune the collection. Being the first one in his family to dive in and pursue a career in the medical field, we focused on the moments that led up to his chosen path. Hardly ever, are others willing to share your dream, your passion, or even attempt to believe in it as you do. Especially in its earliest stages, before the seed begans to grow and bloom. For Myles, like many others, the hardest part for him was to break free from the life that was planned for him and start his own journey, to pursue the life that was meant from him. The great ones usually have to go against the grain at some point, Myles is no different.

With this collection there are many subtle reference points. The figure lower right acting as the oracle that leads the heart, followed by the motherly figure to the left providing the love and support that was shown by his moms along the way. Making our way up to the untamed passion that can only stay quite for so long.

A big thanks to Myles for unduring some long hours to this project all the way through. This short clip from apple goes out to all the crazy ones out there thatÂ think different...

SPOTLIGHT

The new issue of Urban Ink just dropped with Â in-depth interviews on myself as well as Jose Lopez, Jun Cha and Miguel Ochoa. Couldn't be any more proud and honored to share a spread alongside my brothers, as we do here. The article focuses on the strength of our team and the continued growth of us all as artists. Interesting stories from all that shed light on humble beginnings and brighter futures. A huge thank you to Urban Ink and our brother Michael Nguyen for the honor. Be sure to pick up your copy today and read up on the articles yourself.

National Treasures

After a week of straight tattooing I managed to break out of the studio with the brotherÂ JunÂ to explore the city some. First stop was the National Gallery to admire some of the worlds most treasured masterpieces. When it comes to painting collections like this, the masters still live...

From Caravaggio to Rembrandt, Michelangelo to Rafael, me and Jun spent the day drooling over countless masterpieces

The virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo... Timeless

What we found most interesting though was the pieces by Michelangelo and Leonardo that showed their process. The unfinished painting by Michelangelo below was one I didn't even know existed.

And Lastly, this amazing drawing by Da Vinci. Showcased in a private room this piece reveals his finished perfection but more importantly his raw process. The natural aesthetic to his marks translate beauty that is simply not matched. Da Vinci was it....

Afghan Anguish

Another one for the books with the brother Manny. With roots planted deep in the turmoil of Afghanistan, we began his collection honoring the struggles that he bare witness. No holding back with Manny for his first tattoo. Long hours with this one but the brother held firm and power through. Much more to come from him in the coming months.

Sanctioned

Earlier tonight myself and the brothers from the studio, stopped by Cartoon's warehouse in support of his new line of Sanctioned products. Toons is a true pioneer and has been a huge inspiration to me since day one. Seeing the level of success he has come to know is beautiful. This evening proved to be a memorable one with the boys and one that has left us with the notion of what hard work can lead to.

Enjoy some views from the event...

On display for all to drewl over were his countless candy chariots...

Eyecandy...

And for all you loyal viewers out there, here's a behind the curtains look at the Cartoon's work station. Trip out on the new masterwork that's in progress

A huge thanks to Toons for having us. Be sure not to sleep on his new products and take a trip to his new site for a free sample.

Protector

Last piece from London. Amanda is back in the chair for another long one. This girl is true soldier. With a room full of men getting tattooed crying about, she sits like a statue, not a word. A big thanks to her for sticking it out with me. Saint Michael the protector...

Slip Away

Longtime client Gary is back in from Texas to start sealing up the chest. Playing with the idea of time and how easily it can slip away from us if we don't don't take full advantage of every moment. Another smooth session with Gary, more to come.

Sacrifice

The brother Matt is back down from the bay to continue work with his backpiece. The initial sessions for larger scale projects such as this one, are mainly dedicated to laying down the groundwork and really trying to see the direction we want to take with each collection. With the foundation set, we began building...still much work to be done, heres a look in process.

Matt's back is based around the idea of sacrifice.

Still to early to go into detail, but keep in mind...

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live." -Martin Luther King Jr.

A big thanks to Matt for making the trip. Be sure to keep an eye out for future sessions to come.

Caravaggio’s Legacy

Caravaggio led a tumultuous lifeÂ filled with passion, violence and glory. Actually we know much of Caravaggio through his police records. An advocate of the lower class, Caravaggio was notorious for brawling, getting in bar fights and carrying weapons, one of which actually killed one of his opponents during a tennis match. In the past his high-placed patrons had protected him from the consequences of his escapades, but this time they could do nothing and because of this he had to flee Rome and go into hiding. During this time he would be closely followed by enemies in pursuit of his life in which attempts were made regularly. Nonetheless he was still painting and taking on monumental commissions that only heightened his fame with every place that he visited. At the age of 36, his powerful friends in Rome made a breakthrough with the newly appointed Pope, and Caravaggio was given a pardon to return to Rome, although he would never make it back alive. Much controversy is said by his unexpected death in route from Naples to Rome, some say his past caught up with him, others say he died of a fever on the shores. None is clear, but the overall impact of a man's short-lived pioneering style that would be often imitated but never duplicated, stands the test of time.

"With the exception ofÂ Michelangelo, no other Italian painter exercised so great an influence."

The exhibit currently on display at the LACMA clearly shows his impact on the painters that followed him. Not mainly originals from the master himself, maybe 8 in all, but regardless impressive works from Gentileschi, Ribera, and VelasquezÂ alike, all making this show a must see...

Best known for his a radical naturalismÂ that combined close physical observation with a dramatic, even theatrical, use of chiaroscuro. Caravaggio preferred to paint his subjects as the eye sees them, and at a time of heavy religious influence he broke out of conventional methods and Â was able to tweak them to his own sensibilities. criticized often for pushing the limits, for example, using known prostitutes as a model for the The Death Of The VirginÂ and other paintings alike, he was successful in reducing the religious class to human terms.

Remembered as martyr of the lower class Caravaggio will continue to be a topic of conversation now, and surely in years to come...

Inner Peace

Slow down.... trade in the freeway for the unchartedÂ mountain trail.Â Loose the city life and find the peace that lies within trueÂ nature.Â Â A few months back,Â before the term started back up at Art Center, I took it upon myself to break free from the daily grind and get lost in the wilderness. You must always take time toÂ regroup the mind and soak up inspiration from the greatest designer of all.

-Robert Frost

Wandering through forests filled with RedwoodsÂ over 2000 years old, enjoying crystal clear water to crystal filled caves,Â beauty is at every corner.

Some friends I came across on my journey.Â

They say to truly experience peace one must have enduredÂ the struggles that are found in the trenches. If you are ruthless with your work and know the trenches I speak of, you need this in your life.Â A free mind with no anxiety or stress, is the mind at its purest. Never before I have been ably to think so clearly, taking this opportunity to reflect on the year and prepare for whats to come.Â

Michelangelos creation

I've officially died and gone to heaven. I cannot recall another time in my life that my eyes have layed upon such beauty and perfection. They say there are some things in life you truly have to experience to understand, and standing under the SistineÂ chapel is especially one that is like none other.

Now photography in the chapel is strictly prohibited, but since you all have been so loyal...

"Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving."

Lord Of The Sea

The MET

Still going strong here in New York. For now enjoy some views from a visit earlier in the week to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its undeniable that the Met holds one of our countries most prized collections, last week I was reminded whyâ¦.

The halls are filled with endless inspiration.

Canova's presence was definitely felt in the hall of sculptures. First up is the Perseus with the Head of Medusa

And one of my personal favorites, Count Ugolino and His Sons.

Easily the favorite from our outing. Touring from the Netherland's Vermeer's, "Girl With the Pearl Earing" left us speechless.

Back to Back

When a client dedicates his back to his collection you know he's fully committed at that point. In my opinion, and I am sure many will agree, that working on one's back is the biggest honor an artist can have. With the body's biggest canvas, along comes the most work. Ready, willing and able, these fellas are in it for the long term. Heres a few of the many larger scale projects currently in rotation. An early healed look with the brother Faze as we go in for yet another strong session... Still much work to be done with this one.

Niv has been a straight soldier throughout the whole process of working on his apocolypto inspired back piece. When you come across the rare client who is as dedicated to the process as we are, your become similar to a band of brothers going into battle time and again. We are dedicated to the finish. Quality in every step. Long days and longer nights. Feels good to see this one come as far as it has. Still needs another session to complete. Heres a look from last night's session.

A huge thanks to all the clients that have been coming in day in and day out, sticking it out with me throughout those long sessions.

Fall of the KING

The good bro Brian is back in the studio to continue. The long hours are starting to pay off. Enjoy some progress shots from the journey so far... Still to early to go into detail, but the general theme surrounding his collection is entitled, "The fall of a KING."

A closer look...

A few weeks later Brian stopped by to show us how everything healed up.

Keep an eye out for future sessions as we began to bring together the whole side. A big thanks to Brian for being a trooper everytime were in session.

Switch Gears

The brothers and I are back on US soil and back to work. After a great trip to Europe its time to dive back into my studies with school as well as taking all the inspiration I soaked up from over seas and re-injecting it back into my work. The studio is like our lab. Constantly we are trying to new things, working nonstop, anxiously waiting to showcase and share that progress with the world. In fact, one of the main purposes that we travel is this, to spread what we are excited about here at Lowrider with you all. Under this roof there are no egos, no negativity, just a band of brothers collectively driving this craft in hopes to push it to another plateau. I guess what I am trying to say is it feels good to be home...

Uniform

While thick in the study of the human form we take a turn in the study of what lyes on top. The beauty of drapery, or clothing, is how it enriches the appearance of the human form while simultaneously gives clarity to the movements and actions that occur within. As we break down the essentials and formulas to each fold, I have now been made aware that certain laws govern the seemingly randomness of folds that we encounter. Once the artist can break down the structure, the beauty of line and almost musical rhythm of the material can now play their part. The ones that mastered this art, is where I turn. Leonardo and Durer have been my teachers over the past couple of nights. Take a look at some recent studies taken straight from the classroom...

Milano Convention

Milano Convention x Lowrider Tattoo

Â Wrapping up work here at the Milano Convention. It's not every day where I am able to receive advice from great artists like Robert Hernandez and get to watch the masters of the Horitoshi family work under the same roof. Any amazing weekend to say the least. Aside from slaving away at the booth I managed to break free a minute and see what the world looked like away from my station. The greatest part was having the opportunity to meet so many great people from all over the world, both collectors and artists.Â So much love here in Italy, enjoy a few views from the show. Jose leads us into battle...

The brother Miguel showing strong all weekend.

Our brother Macko from Italy had the honor to seal up Og David's body suit, which later took 1st place for best overall body suit.

Horitishi family keeping tradition alive, a privilege to witness their process in person.

Looking forward to returning to Rome come May. Thanks once again for all the continued love and support.

Dear Mama

Â Real men love their moms. Joey is in to pay tribute, not to someone that has passed away, but to his living and healthy mother. Why? If your asking yourself that, then you need to go find your moms and go give her a hug and a kiss immediately. Great way to end the New York campaign. I want to send a huge thank you to everyone that made this trip so memorable. Your love and support most definitely does not go unnoticed. Thank you all.Â Last one from New York...

Recap to follow

And since were on the topic of mommas, heres some classic Tupac for you from the archives.

Organized Chaos

A small look intoÂ a portion of the work being prepared right now for midterms at Artcenter. Here's a few preliminaryÂ illustrations showing invaluable early thinking that goes before anyÂ final compositions. Scrambling to prepare countless presentations with not even close to enough time to do so.Â Long nights will surely leadÂ into early mornings. When failure is not an option you must deliver by any means. Stay posted.